Howdy Neighbors!

Here's your morning farm news headlines from the Director of Farm Programming for the Radio Oklahoma Network, Ron Hays. We are proud to welcome Big Iron Unreserved Online Auctions as our newest sponsor of the daily Email. Their next auction is Wednesday, July 28 - featuring Low Hour, Farmer Owned Equipment. Click here for their website to learn more about their Online Farm Equipment Auctions.

We are also excited to have as one of our sponsors for the daily email Producers Cooperative Oil Mill, with 64 years of progress through producer ownership. Call Brandon Winters at 405-232-7555 for more information on the oilseed crops they handle, including sunflowers and canola- and remember they post closing market prices for canola and sunflowers on the PCOM website- go there by clicking here.

And we salute our longest running email sponsor- Midwest Farm Shows, producer of the just concluded Southern Plains Farm Show, as well as the Tulsa Farm Show. Click here for more on the December 2010 Tulsa Farm Show, including information on how you can be an exhibitor.

If you have received this by someone forwarding it to you, you are welcome to subscribe and get this weekday update sent to you directly by clicking here.

One of those with regrets is Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas, who admits the authority was given to USDA to renegotiate the deal with crop insurers in the 2008 farm law- but he believes that as he calls it "the power of the purse" was usurpted by USDA in the negotiations- they went too far in extracting savings from the program and the savings will erode the budget baseline for agriculture as the 2012-2013 farm bill is crafted.

One of the wtinesses that says the deal between the government and the private companies has an odor to it is Jordan Roach, representing Crop Insurance Agents. He told the Committee that as a result of this deal that sucked $6 billion out of the program that "Producers lost the opportunity for better coverage at lower cost. Congress lost funds to write a new Farm Bill. And, yes, companies and agents lost revenue needed to meet employee payrolls and sell and service policies to our farmers and ranchers."

You can read more about this hearing- and we have the audio comments of US Congressman Frank Lucas found as part of our story on our website as well- just click on the LINK below to read more and take a listen.

Click here for more on House Ag Subcommittee Hearing on Crop Insurance Held on Thursday.

With that in mind- Peel says it's all about managing costs- and that will determine the Cow-Calf man's ability to turn a profit here in 2010.
Longer term- Dr. Peel believes it's a good time to at least start thinking about some herd expansion- how you need to lay the groundwork to do so over the next couple of years, including how to improve your genetics in that process.

Click on the LINK below for today's Beef Buzz- and remember that you can always check previous Beef Buzz reports that have been heard on the Radio Oklahoma Network by clicking on the Beef Buzz button on the left hand side of any page on our website- www.OklahomaFarmReport.Com

Click here for our Friday Beef Buzz as heard on the Radio Oklahoma Network.

A new Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI) for Oklahoma has received federal approval, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC) has announced. Chief Dave White, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), has approved the project for reconstruction of conservation and flood control infrastructure in the Sugar Creek Watershed in Caddo County in southwestern Oklahoma. The infrastructure was severely damaged by storm and flooding events in August 2007 when Tropical Depression Erin ravaged the western part of the state.

The expected benefits of this project will be to stabilize and protect 3,700 acres of prime farmland in the Sugar Creek watershed floodplain, stabilize the channels that are eroding their way toward numerous flood control structures in the watershed , and improve the water quality in Sugar Creek by reducing sedimentation and associated nutrient loads. This work will be done on privately-owned land with producers who all have long histories of cooperating with their local Conservation District and the NRCS to implement best management practices (BMPs) on their lands. Approximately one-fourth of the project area is tribal allotted land.

Click here to read more on this deal between the Feds and Local Conservation Groups- plus we have a link back to 2007 that details conservation responding to that once in a lifetime storm.

First- about canola- "Thought that you might want to include some upcoming sign-up deadlines for Oklahoma farmers. First, the deadline to sign an application for canola crop insurance contracts or written agreements is August 31 for most Oklahoma producers. Most Oklahoma producers will need to apply for a written agreement except for producers in nine counties that now have approved contracts. A few Oklahoma producers had contracts this year but they will still likely want to visit with their agents before August 31. In addition to the APH contract, there are now two revenue-based contracts available. Producers wanting to switch from APH contracts to a revenue-based contract will need to sign an application by August 31." Eric adds that "Some crop insurance agents are not familiar with written agreements or unwilling to write them. Producers may need to do a little calling around to find an agent that will write the agreement."

"Second, Trade Adjustment Assistance has been approved for commercial catfish and asparagus producers. There are 25-30 Oklahoma producers of each these commodities. Producers that sign-up with FSA by September 23 and complete training are eligible to receive assistance of up to $4,000. If they then complete a business plan, they are eligible for another $8,000 (maximum). The actual payments are not based on production or sales, but based on the number of producers nationally that complete the training and business plan requirements. Producers with questions can contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency office." Eric says if you have questions about this or about the canola crop insurance issues- you can call him as well- that number is 405-744-6166.

"The rule of thumb," Pitts said, "is to treat stinkbugs when 10-50 percent of bolls show damage. Damage caused by stinkbugs is demonstrated by small growth inside the boll wall. After feeding occurs, the boll will be contaminated and rot will result from diseases carried by the stinkbug." Recent research from southeastern states, Pitts said, show a "dynamic threshold" provides the best return on control costs.

The threshold, he said, is dependent on the week of bloom where the first week of bloom allows 50 percent boll damage down to 10 percent in weeks three to five after first bloom. Once the bolls reach the size of a quarter, it is described as safe from stinkbug damage, Pitts said. The bugs are not capable of penetrating the boll wall with their long slender mouth parts so that no diseases enter the boll wall through their feedng wound. "Remember stinkbugs are nocturnal feeders and tend to be clumped together in cotton," Pitts said. "They often migrate from corn, grain sorghum or peanuts growing next to cotton. Weeds on the edges of fields also can support several stinkbugs, so be sure to check those areas when scouting for stinkbugs."

Click here for more on this story and how to reach Terry Pitts if you have questions.

The three day event includes a fast paced education component. The Cattlemen's College sessions are a collaborative effort of Oklahoma State University Animal Science and the Animal Industry Division of the State Department of Agriculture. Discussions this year will focus on cattle marketing issues and emerging cattle disease issues. Because of its emphasis on animal health and well being the Cattlemen's College has been approved for 8.5 hours of continuing education for veterinarians. "This is a unique opportunity for ranchers and veterinarians to come together to learn more about cattle issues such as trichomoniasis and animal traceability, said Dr. Becky Brewer, State Veterinarian. "We appreciate the OCA's leadership on animal welfare and other livestock issues."

Click on the LINK below for more about the 2010 convention- it's going to be one of their best meetings ever.

Click here for more on the 2010 OCA Convention- set for July 29-31 in Midwest City

We also invite you to check out our website at the link below to check out an archive of these daily emails, audio reports and top farm news story links from around the globe.

Click here to check out WWW.OklahomaFarmReport.Com

Here are some links we will leave in place on an ongoing basis- Click on the name of the report to go to that link:
Our Daily Market Wrapup from the Radio Oklahoma Network with Ed Richards and Tom Leffler- analyzing the Futures Markets from the previous Day-
Ron on RON Markets as heard on K101 mornings with cash and futures reviewed- includes where the Cash Cattle market stands, the latest Feeder Cattle Markets Etc.
Previous Day's Wheat Market Recap- Two Pager From The Kansas City Board of Trade looks at all three US Wheat Futures Exchanges with extra info on Hard Red Winter Wheat and the why of that day's market.
Daily Oklahoma Cash Grain Prices- As Reported by the Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture. <
The National Daily Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary- as prepared by USDA.
The National Daily Slaughter Cattle Summary- as prepared by USDA.
Finally, Here is the Daily Volume and Price Summary from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.